I KNOW, IT'S BEEN A WHILE, BUT MY GOOD FRIEND WHO WROTE CHAPTER 12 (WHO AGAIN PREFERS THAT I NOT MENTION HIS NAME) OFFERED TO WRITE THIS CHAPTER, AND HERE IT IS. REST ASSURED EVERYONE, THIS STORY WILL BE MAKING A HUGE COMEBACK, FOR I HAVE THE NEXT TWO CHAPTERS ALMOST COMPLETED. AS USUAL, TRANSFORMERS IS OWNED BY HASBRO AND AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER IS OWNED BY NICKELODEON
Transformers: Avatar Chronicles
Chapter 13: Infested
After allowing both children and the Autobots to escape, both Swindle and Airachnid returned to their master in order to give their report and of course, the lord of the Decepticons was less than thrilled by what they had to say.
"HOW IN THE PITS OF KAON COULD YOU TWO BE SO IDIOTIC!?" Megatron shouted at his subordinates. "Not only did you let the Avatar escape, but you did this little scheme without my knowledge Swindle!?"
"Please my lord, forgive me!" Swindle begged. "I-"
"Silence Swindle!" the metal tyrant shouted. "You went into that human village without my permission just so take their money. Money may I remind you that is completely worthless to our kind!"
"I-I can't help it, I just feel the impulse to take money!" the Combaticon argued. "It's a force of habit!"
"Enough of your whining!" Megatron snarled as he smacked the Decepticon commando to the ground. "The only reason you are still functioning is because you and the other Combaticons play a vital part in our plans for the invasion. Now, get out of my sight at once! And do not even consider doing that little stunt of yours again!"
Without another word Swindle quickly transformed into his vehicle mode and sped off to rejoin his fellow Combaticons. Once the commando was gone, the former gladiator of Kaon turned his attention to warrior he charged with eliminating the Avatar after Dredwing's failure.
"And as for you" he said to Airachnid. "I gave you this mission because I assumed you could take out Avatar quickly and quietly, but instead you managed to lose a squadron of Vechicons and burn down a whole village in the process!"
"It wasn't a total loss my liege," she tried to reason. "I did snuff out the Spark of Autobot known as Ironhide"
Megatron's response to her statement was grabbing the smaller Con by the throat and pinning her to the wall, with a look of pure rage in his optics.
"Even if you did kill Ironhide, which I highly doubt, it would only makes matters worse for us," the Decepticon leader hissed as squeezed her throat. "He is Prime's closest ally, and if he were to die, the Autobots would only fight harder on the day of the invasion in his name!"
The former gladiator then dropped the fem-bot to the ground, letting her fall to her hands and knees.
"The only reason I'm not tearing your Spark from your chest is because the Fire Lord believes you to be useful," Megatron informed her "He requested for you to lead a special Fire Nation naval fleet known as the Southern Raiders. I suggested you take up Ozai's request and leave the Fire Nation before I send you to the scrap yard."
The Decepticon hunter weakly bowed to her master before scurrying out of the base, after the fem-bot had left; Starscream and Soundwave approached their leader.
"This had better be good news Starscream," Megatron growled.
"Unfortunately, no my lord," Starscream meekly replied, already fearing how his master was going to handle what he was about to tell him. "Soundwave has received a distress call from one of our newest energon mines."
"Play the message Soundwave," the warlord growled to his communications officer.
As he was commanded, Soundwave face plate switched on and began to play the message he had recorded. After a few seconds of static the voice of a panicking Vechicon was heard while sounds of a battle taking place and the screams of both Cybertroians and humans could be heard in the background.
"Come in Decepticon headquarters this energon mine number 31, we are under attack by *Static* they're all over the place! The mine is *Static* requesting reinforcements imminently! The mine is infested! I repeat the mine is infested! Send help! *Static*"
The message then faded into static, leavening Starscream confused as to who or what had laid siege to the mines.
"It has to be those blasted Autobots!" the Seeker concluded. "They must have attacked the mine in order to get energon for their dying friend"
"Autobots do not 'infest' mines Starscream," his master corrected. "I suspect we may be dealing with something else entirely."
"Y-you don't mean THEM my liege!" the air commander replied in fear once he realized as to what Megatron was referring to.
"There is only one way to be sure," Megatron said. "We will go to this mine and investigate for ourselves."
"Uh, what do you mean 'we' master?" Starscream questioned in a confused tone.
"Both you and Soundwave are going to assist me in this mission," the metal tyrant answered as he narrowed his optics, much to the hidden dismay of Starscream. "Unless you have a problem with that?"
"None whatsoever master," Starscream said before trying to think of a way out this mission. "But if you're leaving the base, wouldn't it be more reasonable to send someone else with you? You need someone to stay here with Azula and Ozai in order finish the plans for the invasion,"
"That is why Shockwave is staying here and your going" Megatron explained in dark tone.
"Ugh! Shockwave this, Shockwave that!" Starscream exclaimed. "All I ever hear about is how great Shockwave is!"
"Shockwave is an ideal Decepticon Starscream, and I suggest you refrain from another outburst like that again," Megatron responded before walking away. "We leave within the hour."
The seeker grumbled a few unmentionable Cybertronian words under his breath as he walked away. It was bad enough that he had to go on what he considered a suicide mission with his leader, but also being forced to compete for his master's favor with the head of the Decepticon science division. Just then an idea suddenly formed in his head, perhaps this mission could prove useful to him in quest for power and the best part would be that he wouldn't have to get his hands dirty or need Azula's help in the process.
'After all, accidents can happen,' he thought to himself as let out a low, dark chuckle.
*QUE TRANSFORMERS PRIME OPENING THEME*
Meanwhile, the Gaang and the Bots managed to get clear of the town before anyone else arrived on the scene. Unfortunately Ironhide was still in stasis mode and the group had to find cover on a cliff side forest several miles away from the town. While the Autobots spoke to one another as the rush to keep their dying commanding officer alive, the humans however stayed out of the way and remained silent in their campsite, fearing the worst for their metallic friend.
"Alright, since none of you jerks aren't going to say it I will!" Toph suddenly spoke up in an upset tone. "It's my fault that Ironhide is like this!"
"Toph you didn't mean to-" Katara tried to reason before the Earthbender cut her off.
"Save it Katara, you and Ironhide were the ones who warned me in the first place and I didn't listen to either of you!" she shot back as tears fell from her eyes. "If I did then Ironhide would still be..."
She wasn't able to finish her sentence as she broke town and started crying. The rest of the kids attempted to embrace their friend in a group hug, but the former Blind Bandit shoved them aside and walked away from the campsite and sat on a rock several feet away from them.
"Let's just give her some time alone," Aang said.
Just then, Breakaway and the other Autobots approached the kids, who all had a look of uncertainty of in their eyes.
"We were able to stop more energon from leaking out of the wound, but it's too early to tell if he'll pull through," the aerialbot informed solemnly.
"(We're just lucky Breakaway had some medical training,)" Bumblebee added.
"I'm no Ratchet, but I do have some experience with first-aid at least," Breakaway replied.
"Speaking of Ratchet, why don't we call him?" Warpath asked.
"You know we can't do that Warpath," Breakaway replied. "We can't get any radio contact with Prime in this world and even if we did, the Decepticons might trace the signal back to us."
"Then tell me what we CAN do?!" the rookie Autobot snapped, making everyone jump.
It was then that Sokka had an idea that could help their situation.
"Hey wasn't there a mine a few miles back that we passed over?" he asked.
"Yeah it was an energon mine, but what's your point?" his robotic companion asked.
"I mean that if it's a mine, then there's bound to be injuries right?" the water tribe boy continued. "And if there's injuries then-"
"(There's medical supplies!)" Bumblebee finished in realization.
"Right! So all we have to do is sneak in there and steal them, then we can patch up Ironhide good enough until Ratchet can fix him up," Sokka explained.
"That's a great plan Sokka," Aang complemented.
"But who's going to go get the supplies?" Katara asked.
"I'll go," the Water Tribe warrior replied.
"I'm with you Sokka," the Avatar added.
"(I'll go with you as well,)" the Autobot scout chimed in.
"I'll stay here. Maybe my waterbending can help Ironhide," Katara said as she handed her brother Bee's translator "And I'll try to talk to Toph as well."
"I have to stay behind and make sure Hide's coordination doesn't worsen," Breakaway added.
"And stealth ain't my thing," Warpath added. "Be careful you guys, we don't want to lose anyone else."
"We'll be back as soon as we can," Sokka replied.
With that Bumblebee transformed into his vehicle mode and let the two humans climb into him before speeding off in the direction of the mines, hoping they would be able to save their comrade's life.
Back at the Fire Nation, Zuko was attempting to enjoy a peaceful evening with his beloved Mai, but after learning about his past and not to mention the growing Decepticon numbers in the Fire Nation, he felt uneasy. Mai could easily that something was up with him.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"It's nothing..." Zuko grumbled back.
"Zuko, I know when your upset, so just tell me what's wrong," Mail replied
He knew he couldn't tell her about his ties to the Avatar, unaware that his girlfriend already had knowledge that the Avatar was alive as well, but he could at least talk about his distrust about his country's new allies, but before he did, he had to make sure that they were really alone and not be heard by a certain robotic hawk. After checking out the room's window he turned his attention back to Mai.
"Do you trust the Decepticons Mai?" he asked his girlfriend.
"Well with a name like 'Decepticons' how can anyone?" she answered bluntly "I'm amazed that Azula and your dad are so gung-ho about working with them. No offense."
"None taken, but you work with Skywarp now and Ty-Lee's with Thundercracker," Zuko added.
"That doesn't mean we like each other Zuko," she replied dully "We only work together because Azula and Starscream made us."
"Good, I needed to hear that," Zuko said with a sigh of relief. "The truth is...I don't trust them either."
"That's smart thinking on your behalf," Mai commented "Do you think they're up to something?"
"I do and I also think we're just a means to an end to them," Zuko answered. "And I'm afraid of what will happen when they no longer need us."
Mai wrapped her arms around her boyfriend's waist and lovingly embraced him, hoping to take his mind off of the Decepticons. The two kissed once more before they both heard the sound of someone slowly clapping their hands together. The prince and his lover turned to see where the noise was coming from and found Azula walking up to them. She was alone, Ravage was not with her this time, but even without her guardian, Zuko and Mai knew that she was still a force to be reckoned with.
"Bravo, bravo, truly a moving moment," Azula began as Zuko and his Mai broke away from another.
"How long have you been-" Zuko attempted to ask.
"Relax Zu-Zu, I just walked in the room only a few seconds ago," Azula replied casually.
"What do you want Azula?" her brother asked sharply.
"I need to have a word with you in private," the princess explained before looking over to Mai. "Private as in, someone named Mai needs to leave the room right now kind of private."
"She doesn't have to leave if she doesn't want to," the prince defended.
"It's fine Zuko, I'll see you later," Mai replied before giving him a quick kiss and leaving the room.
Once Mai had left the room, the siblings began their discussion.
"I'll ask again, what do you want?" the prince demanded.
"I'll get right to the point, Megatron, Starscream and Soundwave are leaving the palace soon to investigate a disturbance at one of the energon mines and I want to know why," his sister explained.
"Then go with them then," Zuko replied "I'm sure Megatron would take you with him."
"I would, but I need to stay here and help plan out the last phases of our defense against the upcoming invasion with Shockwave" Azula responded. "Which is why you're going in my place."
"And why would I want to do that?" Zuko responded.
"Well let's just say that it would be in your best interest if you did," she answered. "Or rather, uncle's best interest."
Zuko knew exactly what she meant by that, back when she defended his false reason for keeping Shockwave from experimenting on the inmates of the Capital City prison. He knew that she had an alternative motive behind helping him and now she intended to get what he owed her.
"You wouldn't," he hissed.
"Oh you know I would," she replied with a wicked grin on her face.
His sister had him cornered. If he refused, Azula would not only tell Shockwave that the prison was his to use as he saw fit, but also tell their father about his true intentions, which would then lead to the Fire Lord not only allowing Shockwave's experiments on the prisoners, but the Fire Lord would make sure that the former dragon of the west would be in the front of the line for whatever the robotic cyclops had in store, along with his eldest child along with him. Zuko had but one option: accept his sister's request.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked in a defeated tone.
"It's simple, just go with Megatron to the mine and find out why he's so interested in it," Azula ordered with a victorious smirk on her face.
With that said, the master manipulator left the room. Her elder brother could only glare at her for forcing him into this situation. A few seconds later, Mai re-entered the room, much to Zuko's surprise.
"So I take it she wanted you to do something for her against your will?" she questioned.
"She wants me to go with Megatron and his top officers to an Energon to find out what their really after," Zuko responded.
"If that's the case then I'm coming with you" Mai said.
"What? No you're not!" Zuko protested. "It's too dangerous!"
"When has that even been a problem for me Zuko?" she replied as she flicked out three of her knives from her wrist gauntlets in order to prove a point. "Besides, I'm not letting you go alone on some unknown mission with the likes of Megatron and his goons."
Zuko knew that he wasn't going to be able to change his girlfriend's mind anytime soon. The only thing he could do was allow Mai come with him on this mission and make sure that she came back alive.
Back with the Gaang, Katara, Toph, Warpath and Breakaway stayed behind with Ironhide while Sokka, Aang and Bumblebee were away on their mission. The Water Tribe girl was currently trying to heal Ironhide's wounds with her waterbending, but sadly to no avail.
"It was a good try," Breakaway gently said
"My bending helped Bee a little bit when we were trapped under Ba Sing Se," Katara replied "But Ironhide's injuries are to great,"
"You did your best," the aerialbot responded.
"Yeah, and it wasn't enough! Warpath snapped. "I knew this was a dumb idea!"
"That's enough Warpath!" the now commanding officer ordered the rookie. "Katara was just trying to help!"
"Well maybe if she stopped Toph in the first place rather than help her in that stupid scam, then maybe Hide would be okay!" the young solider shot back.
"How dare you put the blame all on her!? As I recall, you were encouraging Toph's behavior as well!" Breakaway retorted sharply.
Warpath narrowed his optics at the aerialbot and clenched both of his metallic fists tightly. He wanted so badly to smack Breakaway across the face, but decided against it since it would do nothing to improve the team's current situation. Instead, he let out a frustrated growl before turning his back to his friends and began to walk away from them.
"Where are you going?" Breakaway questioned harshly.
"I need to get some space," the rookie answered, not turning around. "I can't be around these...humans right now"
Warpath changed into his tank form and drove off from the group, leaving Katara and Breakaway both stunned and saddened by his actions.
"I...I've never seen Warpath act like that," Katara said
"Neither have I, but he was wrong to say those things," the acting officer responded.
"No...he's right" Katara replied sadly. "If I hadn't indulged Toph's actions, none of this would be happening, but I wanted so badly to prove to her that wasn't so motherly all time that I didn't think about the consequences."
"Katara, neither you or anyone else could have predicted that we'd walk right into a trap," Breakaway reasoned "It was a risk and nobody knew that better then Ironhide."
Breakaway's words helped to calm Katara's mind, making her feel a bit at ease, however there still was the matter of Toph to attend to.
"Thank you Breakaway," she replied. "I think I should talk with Toph and help her deal with all this."
"And I'll try to talk some sense into Warpath," the commanding officer added.
"What about Ironhide? Don't you need to stay here to keep a close eye on him?" Katara asked.
"There's nothing more I can do until Sokka and the others return with those medical supplies," he explained. "And even then I don't know if that'll even help..."
Having said that, Breakaway walked away from Kataran and headed in the direction Warpath's treads were going, while Katara looked over to her blind friend who was several feet away and was currently residing within a small stone tent. She wondered to herself how she was going to try to talk to Toph and convince her that everything would be alright even though everything might not turn out to be.
Back with Zuko and Mai, they were preparing for their mission with Megatron and his Decepticons in Zuko's bedroom. The prince took his broad swords and placed them on his back while his lover strapped on her wrist darts as well as her multiple knives that she had hidden under various parts on her clothing. Along with her usual weaponry, she brought along a blade that she hardly used.
"A Katanna?" Zuko stated. "I've never seen you use a sword before Mai."
"That's because there hasn't been a situation where I did need it," she replied as she sheathed the sword on her hip. "Up until now that is."
"You think it's going to be that dangerous?" Zuko asked.
"Don't you?" she answered. "If Megatron himself wants to personally investigate the mine along with Soundwave and Starscream at his side then this may be bigger than we thought."
Zuko couldn't argue with that. Whatever the real reason for the Decepticon warlord wanting to go to the mine, it surely wasn't because he feared for his or the Fire Lord's men's safety. Meanwhile in Mai's mind, she contemplated whether or not to tell the prince about her knowledge of the Avatar's survival. On one hand there was a chance that he may take information with a calm demeanor, while on the other hand what would more than likely happen would be Zuko enraged at her for hiding this knowledge away from him rather than tell him in the first place.
'Maybe I should hold off just a bit longer until I can find the right time to tell him' she thought to herself.
Just then a Fire Nation messenger entered the bed chamber.
"Megatron and his soldiers have arrived," he informed the two of them. "They are waiting for you in the royal courtyard."
Zuko nodded in acknowledgement before both he and May left his room to meet with the Decepticons that awaited their arrival.
"Here he comes now my lord," Starscream said to his master as he pointed to the firebender before grumbling. "About time..."
The lord of the Decepticons looked over to where his second in command was pointing and let out a deep growl. He was not pleased with having the boy join them in this investigation. He personally believed that Azula's brother did not have the ruthlessness needed to rule a nation like his father and sister have, however for the sake of the alliance between the two factions, the former gladiator would have to endure the boy's company.
"Welcome Prince Zuko, your sister told me that you wished to accompany us," the mechanical tyrant greeted darkly to the prince before he noticed the girl at his side. "I was unaware that Mai was coming as well,"
"I offered to join," she responded. "I figured you wouldn't be opposed to more help on this mission."
"I believe Mai and Prince Zuko are in what the humans call a 'relationship' master," the seeker explained to his leader. "She is obviously concerned for his safety and wished to make sure that he would be alright on this mission."
"I see, very well then you may join us," Megatron said "But know this, we Decepticons will not be held responsible for anything that might happen to either of you on this assignment."
"But my father-" Zuko attempted to argue.
"Will know that you died with honor," the warlord interrupted. "But you both are great warriors, so I see no chance that happening"
Zuko didn't know what angered him more, the fact that Megatron did not care whether or not he or Mai survived this mission, or that he knew that his father would not feel any sadness or grief if he truly did perish. However, Zuko could not afford to let this bother him, so he put it out of his mind and focused on the task at hand.
"Soundwave, open a ground bridge," the metal tyrant ordered.
With just a mere wave of his hand, the communications officer opened a swirling green portal in the center of the courtyard, much to the human's surprise.
"Shall we then?" Megatron asked the two lovers.
Zuko and Mai gave him a simple nod before walking through the portal alongside the Decepticons, ready to face whatever was on the other side.
At that very moment as Zuko, Mai and the Decepticons entered the ground bridge portal in order to reach the Energon mine, Aang, Sokka and Bumblebee had also arrived at their destination as well. The trio stopped on the side of hill several yards away from the mines in order to formulate a plane to steal the medical supplies for their dying friend. The two boys then climbed out of the scout, allowing him to transform into his robot form.
"Alright guys we need to make this a quick snatch and run job," Sokka began. "Bee, I want you to make a distraction, so the at least the Vechicons will leave their posts. Aang and I can handle the Fire Nation guards. Then I'll find a med-kit and then we'll split."
"(Actuality, you should let me carry the med-kit Sokka,)" Bumblebee mentioned. "(Cybertronian tools are too big for a human to carry, no offense.)"
"None taken, just means less for me to carry when we're running for our lives," Sokka answered.
"I don't think the guards will be a problem," Aang spoke up as he looked down from the hill.
"Why's that Aang?" Sokka asked.
"You need to just see it to believe it," Aang replied.
The swordsman and the Autobot looked over to the mine and where shocked by what they saw. The mines facilities where torn to shreds, the energon carts were knocked over and empty and the body parts of dead Vechicons littered the ground, along with the lifeless bodies of Fire Nation troops and their blood as well.
"Who could have done this?" Aang asked, completely horrified by the sight below.
"I...I don't know..." was all Sokka could say before looking up at his mechanical friend. "What about you Bumblebee, any ideas?"
"(Not at the moment, although this destruction looks very familiar to me,)" the scout replied before activating his wrist cannons "(But whatever did this, it might still be down there so we need to be extra careful.)"
"Great, some unknown force just trashed an entire mine base and were going down there and are more than likely gonna to have to fight it," the swordsman groaned in frustration. "Is there anything else that can make this worse?"
"(Yeah, them!)" Bumblebee quickly answered as he pointed to a ground bridge portal that opened up right next to mining facility and the occupants that emerged from it.
As if the universe once again wanted to play another one of its cosmic jokes on the water tribe warrior, the Decepticon warlord, along with his top two officers stepped out of the gateway, followed by Zuko and Mai close behind them. Needless to say, Sokka was not pleased by these new circumstances.
"Oh you've gotta be kidding me!" he exclaimed. "Megatron, Soundwave and Starscream are here! Not to mention Zuko and Mai are with them! Can't we just catch a break just for once!?"
"(If Megatron's here with those guys, then whatever happened here is bigger than we thought,)" Bumblebee said. "(You two stay here, I'll try to sneak in and get what we need and get out,)"
"No way Bee, it's too dangerous for you to go down there alone," Aang commented. "We're coming with you."
"Aang's right, we're a team and we need to stick together," Sokka added. "Let's just try to avoid getting caught, there's no way we could take on all five of them at once."
"(Agreed, let's move out,)" Bumblebee ordered as he and his two human allies headed down the hillside.
Megatron and his search party surveyed the chaos. The entire site was ruin and the energon was completely picked clean. The former gladiator's suspicion as to what did this grew as he noticed the teeth marks on the buildings and how his soldiers were torn apart. Zuko on the other hand was heartbroken at the sight of his nation's citizens lying dead where they stood.
"Sure a waste..." Starscream mentioned coldly as he inspected the bodies.
"Is that all you can say!?" Zuko snapped at the seeker. "These men had friends and families! How dare you insult them!"
"Now see here you little-" the seeker attempted to retaliate.
"Enough!" Megatron commanded. "We are here to fight the enemy, not each other. Is that understood?"
"Yes...master" the seeker replied under his breath.
"Good," his master simply said before looking over to his communications officer. "Soundwave, scan the area for anything alive. There may be a survivor we can question."
"Or whatever did this," Starscream added on.
Upon hearing his orders, Soundwave began to scan the area for any signs of life in the vicinity, however his face plate showed nothing was alive.
"There's nothing here," Zuko said.
"Maybe what did this moved on?" Mai asked.
"Or perhaps..." the warlord began as he looked over to the mine. "...they went into hiding,l"
"What should we do now?" Zuko inquired.
"Soundwave, you and Mai will stay on the surface and hold this position," the tyrant ordered. "Starscream and Zuko will accompany me into the mine. I believe we will find our answers there."
And so, the group of killers broke up into two groups; each ready to complete their assignments with deadly force if necessary.
"(Looks like Megatron's going into the mine with Zuko and Starscream,)" Bumblebee informed his friends as they were now getting closer to the mining base.
"So that just leaves Soundwave and Mai to deal with," Sokka contemplated "It looks like the odds may be in our favor,"
"(Not likely, Soundwave is one of the most dangerous Decepticons in Megatron's army,)" the scout explained. "(I'd rather not take him on by myself.)"
"And Mai is pretty dangerous herself," Aang also added. "And what's to stop them from calling on Megatron and the others for help?"
"Good point, let's just stick to the plan and get out," the water tribe warrior told his friends. "Remember guys, Ironhide's life is at stake here"
The trio finally reached the mine, moving swiftly from building to building as they tried to find the much needed medical supplies, however their actions did not go unnoticed by the all-seeing Decepticon.
"Find something?" Mai asked, only to watch Soundwave walk away from his post and into the mining base itself without a single word. "Why do I even try?"
Back with the Gaang, Aang and Sokka rummaged through an empty building for their objective while Bee searched in another building.
"Find anything yet Sokka?" Aang asked in a whisper.
"No, I've got nothing," Sokka answered in a louder tone. "How hard is it to find a single med-kit!?"
"Ssh, keep your voice down!" Aang warned as he covered his mouth. "Soundwave might hear you."
Suddenly a knife soared in between the two boy's faces and into the building's wall. The duo turned to look at the doorway and saw Mai standing there with Soundwave standing right behind her.
"It's a little late for that," she casually informed them.
"We don't want to fight you," Aang told her as he and Sokka prepared themselves for battle.
"I'm not in the mood to fight you either," Mai replied. "So just surrender and this won't turn into a bloodbath."
As Aang and Sokka kept the villainous duo's attention on them, Bumblebee attempted to sneak up on the Decepticon officer and take him out quickly, but just as he was about to spring his trap on his enemy, Soundwave spun around and punched Bee into a building. It was then that Sokka and Aang launched their attack on Mai. Sokka drew his energon blade and brought it down on her, only to have it blocked by her own sword.
"You're not the only one who know how to use a sword," she said before knocking her adversary back.
Just then, Aang fired a blast of air at Mai, knocking her backwards into the building's wall. Mai retaliated by launching her wrist darts at the young Avatar who quickly deflected them with his air-bending. Mai then rushed toward him with her sword at the ready. She swung her blade at Aang, who tried to evade the weapons, but was cut across the arm by the blade. Sokka rushed in again and clashed blades with her.
"I've got this Aang, go help Bee!" he ordered his friend before locking swords with Mai again.
As much as Aang didn't want to leave his friend alone in a fight, he knew the Autobot needed his help in his battle against Soundwave, and that fact couldn't be truer when Aang watched Soundwave throw his robot friend to the ground. The Avatar then pulled a massive bolder from the earth and hurled it at the Con's back, knocking him off balance, easily getting his attention. Soundwave shot two metal tentacles from his chest at the Avatar, who leaped out of the way at the last second. Aang kept dodging the tentacles, while Soundwave himself continued his battle with Bumblebee.
Suddenly, Soundwave's face plate switched on to show an digital map layout of mining base and four red dots that were flying toward the base and in their direction specifically. Soundwave knocked Bee aside and halted his attack on Aang before looking up at the sky, confusing Aang and Bumblebee. Just then, a faint buzzing sound was heard. At first it was low, but in mere seconds the buzzing grew so loud that it made Mai and Sokka forgot their duel and run outside to try to find the origin of the buzzing. All five of them, looked up into the sky, almost completely forgetting their battle entirely to see what was coming for them. The four life signatures that Soundwave detected looked like large robotic beetles. They landed on the ground and surrounded the group. Sokka noticed the fear in Bumblebee's optics at the sight of these creatures and felt the fear in him rise as well.
"Wh-what are those things?" he asked in horror.
"(There Insecticons!)" The Scout answered in fear. "(We're in some serious trouble now!)"
Katara slowly approached Toph's earth tent. Even though the tent was made of stone, the water bender could still hear the younger girl sobbing her eyes out. She tapped on one of the stone walls in order to get her friends attention.
"Go away!" she shouted through the earth tent.
"I just want to talk Toph," Katara offered.
"Well I don't want to!" Toph shouted back. "So leave me alone!"
"That's not going to happen and if I have to talk to you through this rock then so be it!" Katara said sharply. "None of us knew that we were going to walk into a trap when we pulled that scam."
"But you told me that something like this would happen!" the Blind Bandit replied. "And what if it wasn't Ironhide that was hurt, what if it was Sokka or Aang or one of the other Bots? If they had been injured or worse it would've been my fault just like it's my fault with Ironhide!"
"I know what it feels like to have someone you love taken away from you, it feels like a void forming in your heart." Katara explained solemnly. "But Ironhide is still here with you."
The walls on the earth tent came down to reveal Toph, who's pale eyes had tears running down her cheeks and her face full of anger.
"And what if he doesn't make it, huh?!" she snapped as he advanced toward her friend. "What if he dies before Aang and the others don't get back here in time?"
"They'll be back, I promise you," Katara reassured. "And when Ironhide wakes up, you'll be the first person he'll want to see."
Toph didn't say a word. Instead she threw her arms around Katara in a tight embrace, to which she returned the hug and allowed the girl to weep once again.
"It's going to be okay" Katara soothed.
Just then the two girls heard the sounds of a battle raging a few yards away from where they were standing. They put aside their emotions and prepared themselves for an attack, ready to defend their dying friend. The unseen battle raged on for several minutes until it suddenly stopped and all became silent. Out of the darkness, two massive figures emerged from the shadows and approached the benders, however these were not enemies that stood before them, instead they were their allies.
"Warpath? Breakaway?" Katara asked, stunned at the sight of the two dented up Autobots. "What happened to you two?"
"Well like I told you earlier Katara, I went off to try to talk some sense into Warpath," the aerialbot informed her "But he wouldn't listen, so instead I spoke to him in a language he understood pretty well."
"Wait a second, you two were the ones fighting!" Toph said in bewilderment.
"Yeah we beat the slag out of each other," Warpath replied. "And when all my anger was out of me, then I listened to what Breakaway had to say, which reminds me..."
The rookie solider knelt down and bowed his head to the two girls in an apologetic fashion.
"I'm sorry for what I said about you two, I was angry and I just wanted an outlet and it was wrong of me to pour it on you both," he said "Can you forgive this bot?"
"Of course Warpath," Katara answered gently as she touched his massive hand. "After all, we're family."
"Ugh, what a mess," Starscream sneered in disgust at the sight of the lifeless bodies that were scattered all over the tunnel. "I would've hated to be down here when this started."
"Silence Starscream!" Megatron cut in. "Do you want to alert whatever's down here to our position?"
'Say's the one who's currently yelling at me,' the seeker thought to himself.
Zuko remained silent during the entire trek through the mine. While her didn't show it, he was overcome by sadness at the sight of the dead Fire Nation workers that were stung all over the ground around him. He sent a glare in Megatron's direction which went unseen by him. This needless bloodshed was on his hands as well as Zuko's father for allowing this whole thing to be built. As the prince inwardly cursed the Decepticons, the former gladiator stopped dead in his tracks, making Zuko and his second in command halt as well.
"Were being watched," he hissed.
"What!? Are you sure my lord!?" Starscream nearly exclaimed in a panic before receiving a snarl from his master. "O-of course you are."
"By what?" Zuko inquired as he drew his broad swords.
"We must persue," was the only answer the wicked Decepticon leader gave before he continued walking.
The two of them said nothing. Instead they followed their leader, all the while they kept their eyes peeled for even the slightest movement in the darkness of the mine. Further into the mine, Zuko and the two Cons entered a large open space within the mine, where they found three large purple and black robotic insects clinging to the sides of the wall. The insects looked like giant versions of a Hercules Beetle, a Stag Beetle and a Grasshopper. The three creatures flew down to the ground in front of the search party, and to Zuko's surprise, transformed into robots like the Decepticons.
"Well look who it is-is," one of the insects said to his brethren. "Long time no see Megatron-tron."
"What are these things?" Zuko questioned.
"They are Insecticons," Megatron answered, not turning is cold gaze away from the other robots. "These three here are named Shrapnel, Bombshell and Kick-Back and they are not to be trusted."
"You're the one to talk Megatron!" the one called Bombshell accused. "You're the one who tricked our entire race into that ship and launched us into space mega-cycles ago!"
"What is he talking about?" Zuko questioned.
"Long ago during the war for Cybertron, the Insecticons were used as shock troops and sentries by our faction," Starscream explained. "However, they eventually they became to unruly to control, so lord Megatron tricked them all into a cargo ship, telling them that they going a colonization mission. They were then sealed in hibernation pods and sent off world. They must have crash landed on your world eons ago."
"They were supposed into sent into a black hole," the warlord mentioned harshly as he glanced over to his second in command. "But obviously someone made a mistake!"
"And you knew what was down here the whole time didn't you!?" Zuko shouted in rage toward Megatron. "That's why you wanted to come here personally!"
"I had my suspicions," Megatron simply answered before looking back to the newcomers. "How were you awakened?"
"We slept down here for so long," Kick-Back answered. "But then a mining team hit our ship and awoke the three of us and several of our brothers from hibernation. We feasted on every last scrap of energon we found and killed anyone who stood in our way"
"You will pay for what you have done!" Zuko shouted as he readied his swords for combat.
"Silence boy!" the metal tyrant snapped at the human before looking back to the Insecticons. "And as for you three, despite the loss both life and energon here, I still may have use of you and your swarm, serve me once again and I shall let you feed to sparks content."
"And if we refuse-refuse?" Shrapnel questioned.
"That would not be in your best interest," Megatron answered, activating his wrist sword. "What is your answer?"
"Here's our answer!" Bombshell said before he and his allies transformed. "Insecticons, kill them all!"
Meanwhile back Aang and the others; the Insecticons that had found them attacked them. Soundwave leaped into the air and transformed into his drone form as one the Insecticons transformed back into its bug form and chased after him into the sky while the other three fought with rest of humans and the Autobot on the ground.
"There are robots that can turn into bugs too!?" Sokka blurted out as he drew his sword again. "Is there anything you guys can't turn into!?"
"(Not that I'm aware of!)" Bumblebee commented as he ran at one of their enemies.
"We need to work together if we're going survive this!" Aang called out to his friends before throwing a set of large stones into one the Insecticon's face before looking over to Zuko's lover. "Mai, are you with us?"
"Well I'm not against you right now," she replied as she dodged an Insecticon's fist that came down on her.
The Autobot scout fired his wrist cannons at the robotic bug that was also charging at him, but guns didn't so much as even phase the beast as it kept coming. It swung its claws at Bumblebee, who ducked at the last second and delivered a strong uppercut to the monster's lower jaw and kept it up by sending the creature tumbling backwards into a building with a roundhouse kick to the chest.
"Can't you talk some sense into these guys Bee?" Sokka asked quickly before evading the claws of one of the giant insects.
"(Why would they listen to me?)" Bee responded, confused.
"Well you names Bumblebee, maybe they'll think you're a distant cousin or something!" Sokka called back as he slashed at the leg of the bug he was fighting.
"(That's the dumbest idea I've ever heard!)" The Autobot scolded as he fired his cannons his opponent, who was getting back to its feet.
"Well I'm open to suggestions!" the water tribesman shouted before leaping out of the way of a Insecticon's foot.
Back with Mai and Aang, the duo avoided the Insecticons' claws. Aang took the ground out from the beast's feet with his earth-bending, knocking him to the ground. While their enemy was down, Mai took her sword and impaled it through the monster's single optic. It cried out in pain and jumped back to its feet, snatching up Mai as it did. She struggled to get free of its grasp, but to no avail as it brought her toward its awaiting jaws. Luckily, Aang formed a massive spike of stone and fired like a missile right through the monster's head, killing it instantly. It released its hold on Mai before falling lifelessly to the dirt, making her fall to the ground below. Aang used his air-bending to leap into the air and grabbed her before she fell to her death and set her gently down on the ground.
"Um, thanks," was all she could say.
"No problem," Aang replied.
"If you two are done chatting, could you give me a hand over here?" Sokka exclaimed as he ran away from the Insecticon that was chasing him.
Mai glanced up at a nearby building and formed a plan in her head.
"Can you give me a boost to that building?" she inquired as she pulled her sword out of the dead Insecticon's optic. "I have an idea."
Aang nodded in response and lifted her of the building's rooftop with his air-bending. The second Mai's feet touched the ground, she dashed along rooftop and aimed herself alongside the giant bug. With all of her strength, she jump from the building and unto the beast's head. The monster thrashed its head violently to try to shake her off, but Mai held on tightly to one of its antenna. Mai then took her katanna and with all her strength plunged it right into her target's head. The monster thrashed around more, but Mai kept digging her blade deeper and deeper into it's head until she broke her sword in the creature's skull. It was then that the creature finally died. The Insecticon's body collapsed at Sokka's feet, allowing Mai to step off its body ever so casually. It was as if she hadn't single handedly slain a monster just seconds ago.
"Um, is there any chance we could convince you to join our side?" the swordsman asked, dumbfounded.
"Only if Zuko joined you," she answered.
Back with Bumblebee, he was still dealing with the third robot bug. He jumped backwards and fired more rounds at his opponent. The metallic monster ignored the bolts of energy and snatched up the scout by the throat and slammed him down unto the ground and held up its free claws into the air, ready to bring them down on Bee's head, however, the Insecticon suddenly felt something touch the underside of its jaw, it didn't realize it until the last second that it was the Autobot's wrist cannon.
"(Eat this!)" he shouted before firing his gun.
The giant mechanical bug's head exploded thanks to the gun's rounds. Bee rolled out of the way before the dead Cybertronian's body fell on top of him. The scout then looked and saw Aang and Sokka running up to him and saw Mai with them. He instinctively aimed his cannons at his human enemy.
"Wait, it's cool be she's on our side...kind of," Sokka explained.
The group then remembered that there was the matter of Soundwave to deal with and looked up to see him still in a dogfight with the fourth Insecticon.
"That won't keep him busy for much longer," Mai informed the others. "I'm assuming you guys came here to find stuff to help your friend right?"
"Yeah, but how did you-" Aang tried to ask.
"Azula mentioned something about a dying Autobot yesterday," she interrupted before pointing over to a building on the edge of the mining base. "I think I saw Cybertronian med-kit in that building over there when Soundwave and I were looking for you earlier."
"Why are you helping us?" Sokka questioned.
"Like I said, I'm not in the mood to fight you," she mentioned with a sigh as she looked over to Bumblebee. "Or him for that matter."
"But won't Soundwave know you let us escape?" Sokka asked.
"He will if you guys don't get out of here!" she warned them.
With that, Sokka and Bee ran toward the building that Mai showed them, while Aang bowed in respect to her, who merely gave a tiny nod in response to the gesture. The Avatar then quickly ran after his friends to the building and helped gather up the supplies they needed to repair Ironhide and escaped within Bumblebee.
Back with Soundwave, his battle with the Insecticon was starting to become tiresome to him. True his weapons hardly damaged the monsters hard shell, but still in all honesty; he was hardly putting any real effort in fighting this brutish machine in the first place. It was then that the master of espionage decided to end this battle. He rose higher into the sky, baiting his foe to follow him. Just as he reached above the clouds, Soundwave opened Ground Bridge to a location of his choosing in front of him before turning hard left. The Insecticon was not as agile as his prey was and flew right into the portal, sending him right where Soundwave wanted him: the surface of the Sun.
Mai watched as his 'partner' flew back down to the ground and transformed into his robot form. He looked down at her, as if silently questioning where the humans and the Autobot had gone.
"If you're wondering about those others guys, they got away," Mai answered
Soundwave of course said nothing and walked away from the human in order to patrol the area. It was then that Mai turned her attention toward the mine itself, hoping that her beloved was alright.
While that was going on, Megatron, Starscream and Zuko were still locked in combat with Shrapnel, Kick-Back and Bombshell. The former gladiator fought Bombshell, Shrapnel fought the seeker and Kick-Back battled the prince.
"Ha, what do you think you can go against me human?" the giant grass-hopper boasted.
"This!" Zuko shot back as he fired a blast of fire right to Kick-Back's face.
Kick-Back screeched in pain as the heat stung his face before he stumbled backwards into a wall. Zuko kept up his attack by launching a volley of fire-balls at his torso, scorching his metal skin. The fire-bender ran up the Insecticon's leg and climbed up the machine's chest, all the while dodging Kick-Back's hands which were trying to swat him off. He reached the robot's face and once again launched another blast of fire right into his optics, temporarily blinding him. Kick-Back tumbled to the ground in agony. Zuko drew his broadswords and aimed them at his giant enemy's face.
"I-I submit!" he whined.
"Good answer," Zuko growled.
Suddenly Kick-Back smacked the boy off of his chest on on to the ground. Zuko barely had time to roll out of the way of giant Grasshopper's fist before it crushed him.
"Like a human like you could beat me!" he taunted.
Over with Megatron, his battle with Bombshell was intense, the two went blow for blow in their battle. Bombshell punched the warlord hard across the face, but his enemy responded by delivering a strong uppercut. The beetle stumbled back before correcting himself and tackling Megatron.
"Do you know how many gladiators I killed in the pits of Kaon?" Bombshell questioned darkly as punched the tyrant in the gut.
"Not as many I did" Megatron retorted as swiped at his opponent with his sword, slicing off one of his fingers.
Bombshell cried out in pain at the loss of his lost digit, allowing Megatron to kicked him to a rock wall and pummel him with his bare fists. The Hercules beetle caught one of his attacker's fists and sucker punched him in the face. The warlord of Kaon snarled as he began to fire his fusion cannon in a blind fury, while the Insecticon transformed into his bug from and once again tackling Megatron, who quickly knocked him off. Before Bombshell could recover, the warlord stomped on his chest.
"I believe re-negotiations are in order now," he hissed at Bombshell as he aimed his cannon just inches away from his face.
While Zuko and Megatron where busy handling the Insecticons they were fighting, Starscream on the other hand was trying to avoid Shrapnel's steel crushing pincers, all the while screaming like a helpless child.
"Leave me be you brute!" he ordered in a frighten tone before transforming into his jet form and flying out of the of the battlefield.
His master notices this act of cowardice and of course did not take it lightly.
"Starscream, you dare to abandon me!?" he shouted.
He then focused his fusion cannon on the deserter and fired several rounds at him. However one of the bolts hit a weak point in the cave, causing it to quickly break apart around them at an alarming rate.
"You fool, you've killed us all!" Bombshell scolded.
As everyone shambled to find an exit out on foot, the seeker double-timed it out of the mine shaft as it collapsed around him. He went full speed out of the mines opening just seconds before it fell in on itself. He then transformed back into his robot form and couldn't help but cackle at his master's apparent demise.
"Oh this is too good!" he cheered. "Megatron and that useless human are gone and the best part is, I didn't have to do a thing! Farwell Megatron, may you rust in piece!"
Just then he saw both Soundwave and Mai rush toward the scene of devastation being the deceiver that he is, the seeker switched his emotion from happiness to an instant fake sight of despair.
"What happened!?" Mai shouted in horror.
"Oh it was terrible!" Starscream faked sobbed as he feel to his knees to sell the part. "We ran into Insecticons and a fight broke out, then those filthy roaches blew up the mine with a bomb! I tried to save lord Megatron and Prince Zuko, but it was too late!"
Mai could barely believe what she was hearing was true. Zuko couldn't be dead. A simple mine collapsing could not kill her beloved, he was too strong for that, but as she looked at the piles of rocks that now blocked the entrance, she couldn't help but burst into tears.
"Zuko...no..." she wept as she fell to her hands and knees.
"I am truly sorry for your loss my dear" Starscream said softly. "Come...let us leave this awful place. Soundwave, open a ground bridge..."
Soundwave did what he was ordered and opened a doorway back to the Fire nation Palace. As they left the horrid scene through the portal, the new leader of Decepticons grinned evilly to himself. It was all his now and no one would take it away from him.
Meanwhile with the Gaang and the bots, Breakaway began applying the tools to from med-kit that Aang and the others had found the second they arrived with it. Once again the kids sat on the sidelines as the Autobots followed the aerialbot's orders. Even though they had the proper supplies now, it was too early to tell if would help Ironhide at all at this point. After almost two hours of hoping and praying, Breakaway walked over to Toph.
"Toph..." he began gently. "There's someone who wants to see you."
The earth-bender nervously followed the Autobot over to where Ironhide's body was laying and heard an all too familiar voice.
"Hey kiddo..." it greeted in a weak, yet warm tone.
"Ironhide!" she shouted in joy as she ran up to him and wrapped her arms around his large neck "Your okay!"
"It'll take more than a little scratch to take me down," he replied as he gently put one of his hands gently on her back. "Besides who said you can win this war without me?"
Suddenly, Aang, Sokka and Katara also ran up to the still wounded Bot and gave him a group hug.
"Alright, alright cut that out!" he growled as he gently pushed them off of him. "You kids better not go soft on me!"
"Yep, he's back" Warpath chuckled.
While it was a happy ending for the day with the Gaang, the same however, could not be said for Mai. She had just lost her greatest love and now she had to report his death as well as the death of Megatron alongside Starscream to Ozai and Azula.
"It is a tragic loss Fire Lord Ozai," the seeker said solemnly "But rest assured your son died fighting those monsters to his last breath alongside my late master"
"That is...unfortunate" the Fire Lord replied, as if he didn't care.
"Unfortunate!? Is that all you can say!?" Mai snapped, show a great deal of anger. "He was your son and you don't even care that he's dead!?"
"Hold your tongue girl!" Ozai commanded.
Mai glared at the farther of her deceased love and turned away from him before storming off.
"Despite these losses, we must press on," the current leader of the Decepticons added. "It's what my former master would've wanted."
Suddenly, the palace doors flew open and much to Starscream's horror, in stepped a pair of warriors that all of whom thought to be dead, while Mai was in complete disbelief at who had just walked through those doors.
"Zuko!?" Mai exclaimed in disbelief.
"L-Lord Megatron!" Starscream stammered out in terror.
The Megatron and Zuko limped into the throne room. Both were badly cut up and each had a look of pure fury on their faces and their eyes were locked dead on Starscream.
"You're alive!" Mai cried happily as she ran up to the prince and embraced him tightly.
"Praise the Allspark, it's a miracle!" Starscream exclaimed, trying to hide his fear.
"Oh it will be a miracle indeed Starscream..." Megatron replied before snatching up his second in command by the throat, lifting him into the air "If you survive what I have planned for you!"
"How did you survive the cave in?" Azula wondered.
"We were stuck under several piles of rocks, but we managed to dig our way out after being trapped underground for several hours with some help," Zuko answered before looking over to Starscream. "And he left us to die!"
"I swear that was not my intention!" Starscream yelped. "The mine was completely demolished, I thought you both perished!"
"Silence!" his master barked "I will deal with you in private"
The seeker begged and pleaded with his commanding officer as he dragged him out of throne room, but his cries went unanswered as he was dragged to the Decepticon base to be taught a lesson he would not soon forget. Once the Cons had left the room, all the attention went back to Zuko, who was hanging unto Mai for balance at this point.
"So what did you find out brother?" Azula inquired.
"See for yourself, it's right outside the palace," he said before Mai helped make his way to his bedchamber. "Now if you'll excuse me, I would like to rest."
"Sleep well my son," Ozai mentioned without a hint of care that his child had just gone through a near death experience.
With that, Zuko and Mai left the throne room and allowed for his father and sister to see what he was talking about. When they walked outside they were in awe at the sight of hundreds of massive robotic insects crawling all over the palace. Just then three of the insects approached the fire lord and his daughter. They then transformed into a trio of robots.
"The Insecticon hive is at your command Fire Lord Ozai," Bombshell informed him.
*QUE AVATAR ENDING THEME*